Anigozanthos plant named ‘KPMASQ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anigozanthos  plant named ‘KIPMASQ’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive blue and red-purple colored hairs on floral structures. Foliage is short and flowering stems have very strong anthocyanin coloration. Flowering begins very early to early. The new variety is a  Anigozanthos , typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Anigozanthos hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘KPMASQ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated as the result of the crossing made during July 2017of the female parent, an unpatented, proprietary Anigozanthos referredto as ‘15/267A’ and the pollen parent, an unpatented, proprietaryAnigozanthos referred to as ‘15/420A’. ‘KPMASQ’ was discovered andselected by the inventor at a research greenhouse in New South Wales,Australia during 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KPMASQ’ was in New SouthWales, Australia at a research laboratory by tissue culture during 2018.‘KPMASQ’ has since produced several generations and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KPMASQ’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KPMASQ’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KPMASV’ as a new and distinct Anigozanthoscultivar:

-   -   1. Short foliage.    -   2. Very early to early flowering.    -   3. Very strong anthocyanin coloration in flowering stem.    -   4. Distinct blue and red-purple hairs on floral structures.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KPMASQ’ are comparable to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘KPMASQ’differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces a perianth tube colored green and        covered in hairs colored both blue and red-purple; the seed        parent produces a purple perianth tube.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KPMASQ’ are comparable to the pollen parentin most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘KPMASQ’differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces a perianth tube colored green and        covered in hairs colored both blue and red-purple; the pollen        parent produces a teal and green colored perianth tube.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KPMASQ’ are comparable to the commercialAnigozanthos variety ‘KPTAIL’, unpatented. The two Anigozanthosvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘KPMASQ’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Anthocyanin coloration of flower stem is absent or weak in        this comparator, flowering stems of ‘KPMASQ’ have a very strong        anthocyanin coloration.    -   2. ‘KPMASQ’ begins flowering earlier than ‘KPTAIL’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘KPMASQ’ grown outdoors in Kangy Angy, NSW, Australia.This plant is approximately 15 weeks old, shown in a 14 cm pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Colour Chart, 2016, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The following observations andmeasurements describe ‘KPMASQ’ plants grown outdoors in full sun inKangy Angy, NSW, Australia. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 32° C.during the day and 5° C. to 15° C. at night. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Anigozanthos hybrid ‘KPMASQ’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 10 to 21 days at approximately 22° C. to 24°    C.-   Time for produce a rooted liner: 28 to 36 days at approximately    24° C. to 26° C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 15 weeks from a rooted    plantlet.-   Growth habit: Compact upright fan shaped perennial with basal only    branching.-   Pot size: 14 cm.-   Plant type: Compact upright flowering perennial.-   Plant habit: Upright growing stems emerge basally.-   Plant spread: Approximately 25 cm.-   Height:    -   -   Top of foliar plane.—22 cm.        -   Top of flowering plane.—40 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Description of roots (general thickness, color, vigor, production    characteristics): Thick fleshy, main roots with fine hairs and a    fibrous network of smaller roots. Colored near RHS 155B Yellowish    White and 164B Moderate orange yellow.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Basally emerging, irregular rosette. Primarily            fan-shaped.        -   Average length.—22 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Subulate.        -   Leaves per plant.—Average 25 to 35.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Clasping.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Smooth, leathery with slight            shine.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Smooth, leathery with slight            shine.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green N138A with            Red-Purple 59A anthocyanin coloration at basal section of            leaf. Young foliage under side: RHS Green N138A with            Red-Purple 59A anthocyanin coloration at basal section of            leaf. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137A with            Red-Purple 59A anthocyanin coloration at basal section.            Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137A with Red-Purple            59A anthocyanin coloration at basal section.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green NN137B. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green            NN137B.        -   Petiole.—Not Present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Freely flowering under outdoors growing    conditions with substantially continuous blooming from Spring    through Autumn.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Ramification not present.    Large flowers arranged singly on terminal racemes. Individual    flowers are zygomorphic, tubular, with a curved perianth.-   Inflorescence height: Approximately 40 cm.-   Inflorescence width: Approximately 6 cm.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 25    days.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per inflorescence: About 13 flowers    and buds.-   Inflorescences per plant: 10 to 15.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Pilous.        -   Color.—Near RHS White 155C with Blue-Green 114A on tips.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm (apical section open).        -   Length.—Approximately 7.5 cm.-   Petals (unfused floral section):    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Quantity.—6.        -   Texture.—Exterior covered in dense, pilous hairs. Interior            glabrous.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Color.—When opening: Outer, visible surface: Near Green143C            covered with dense hairs colored Blue 105A. Fully opened:            Outer surface: Near Green143C covered with dense hairs            colored Blue 105A. Inner surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144B.-   Perianth tube:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 5.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Texture.—Outer texture highly pubescent, inner texture            glabrous.        -   Description.—Flared distally.        -   Color.—When opening: Outer, visible surface: Background            color near RHS Green 143C covered in dense hairs colored            Blue 105A and Red-Purple 60B. Fully opened: Outer surface:            Background color near RHS Green 143C covered in dense hairs            colored Blue 105A and Red-Purple 60B. Inner surface: Near            RHS Yellow-Green 144B.-   Floral bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—10.        -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid.        -   Tip.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Clasping.        -   Texture.—Pilous on lower surface, glabrous on upper surface.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Near RHS Green 143B. Lower surface:            Near RHS Green 138A. Covered in hairs near Red-Purple 60B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 194A, covered in hairs colored            near Red-Purple 60B.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Texture.—Pilous.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Background color near RHS White N155B. Tips of hairs            colored near Red-Purple 60B.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 45 degrees from peduncle.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pilous.-   Sepals not present.-   Nectaries not observed.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—6.        -   Filament length.—Filaments are mostly fused to petals.            Approximately 0.5 cm, unfused.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow 11A. Quantity: Moderate.-   Gynoecium:-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 5.0 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 4.8 cm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Ovary Color: RHS Red-Purple 60B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Anigozanthos has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: From approximately 0° C. to more than 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anigozanthos plantnamed ‘KPMASQ’ as herein illustrated and described.